The relation between upper limb muscle and brain activity in two precision levels of repetitive light tasks

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of repetitive light tasks of low and high precision on upper limb muscles and brain activities. Surface electromyography (EMG) and electroencephalography (EEG) were used to measure the muscle and brain activity of 10 subjects. The results show that the root-mean-square (RMS) and mean power frquency (MPF) of the muscle activity and the mean power of the EEG alpha bands were higher on the high-precision task than on the low-precision one. There was also a high and significant correlation between upper limb muscle and brain activity during the tasks. The longer the time and the more precise the task, the more the subjects become fatigued both physically and mentally. Thus, these results could be potentially useful in managing fatigue, especially fatique related to muscle and mental workload.     

Development of statistical models for predicting muscle and mental activities during repetitive precision tasks

This study was conducted to develop muscle and mental activities on repetitive precision tasks. A laboratory experiment was used to address the objectives. Surface electromyography was used to measure muscle activities from eight upper limb muscles, while electroencephalography recorded mental activities from six channels. Fourteen university students participated in the study. The results show that muscle and mental activities increase for all tasks, indicating the occurrence of muscle and mental fatigue. A linear relationship between muscle activity, mental activity and time was found while subjects were performing the task. Thus, models were developed using those variables. The models were found valid after validation using other students’ and workers’ data. Findings from this study can contribute as a reference for future studies investigating muscle and mental activity and can be applied in industry as guidelines to manage muscle and mental fatigue, especially to manage job schedules and rotation.     

The influence of confounding factors on the relationship between muscle contraction level and MF and MPF values of EMG signal: a review

The purpose of this article is to gather results of studies on the relationship between median frequency (MF) and mean power frequency (MPF) and the level of muscle contraction, and to use those results to discuss the differences in the trends according to factors related to measurement technique and subject. Twenty-one studies with 63 cases for upper limb muscles and nine studies with 31 cases for lower limb muscles were analysed. Most results showed an increase in parameters with an increased level of muscle contraction, only some studies showed a decrease. The influence on parameters of the level of muscle contraction and factors such as subjects, type of contraction, muscle length and electrodes was analysed for each muscle. It was concluded that when analysing the influence of different factors on MF and MPF, because those factors interact they should be considered together, not separately.     

The effects of hand force variation on shoulder muscle activation during submaximal exertions

Upper limb injuries are highly prevalent in the workplace and new tools are needed to proactively design workstations to reduce injury risk. The objective was to characterize spatial, load and direction dependency of muscle activity for hand exertions in the upper limb workspace. Electromyographic signals were collected from 14 upper limb muscles during exertions for all combinations of 4 submaximal hand forces (20/30/50/60?N) in 6 cardinal (up/down/left/right/forward/backward) directions at 5 hand locations. Linear muscle activity increases accompanied increased hand forces. Total muscle activity increases between 20 and 60?N hand forces ranged by direction from 92% (downward) to 189% (right). Prediction equations for all muscles depended on hand force, and linear, quadratic and interaction permutations of hand location. Muscle activity associated with manual tasks is load, direction and spatially dependent. Equations developed to describe these complex relationships can be used to better design future and evaluate current occupational activities.     

基于JACK的机务人员上肢职业性损伤的仿真与评估

为客观评价机务人员上肢职业性肌肉骨骼损伤风险,选取作业姿势、肌肉负载和暴露时间作为评估工作过程中机务人员肌肉骨骼损伤的指标,结合工效学和仿真技术,建立机务维修中肌肉骨骼损伤风险仿真评价方法,定量评估工作过程中机务人员肌肉骨骼损伤程度。采用动素理论分解A330飞机六号肋改装作业任务,对作业人员、工作场景、维修动作进行建模,使用JACK软件中的人因分析工具(TAT)分别对选取指标进行分析评估。研究结果表明：在六号肋改装作业中,机务人员存在严重的上肢职业性肌肉骨骼损伤的隐患,此研究方法可客观高效评估机务人员上肢职业性肌肉骨骼损伤的程度。     

Upper limb load as a function of repetitive task parameters: part 2--an experimental study.

The aim of the study was to compare the theoretical indicator of upper limb load with the physiological indicator of musculoskeletal load, which is present while performing a repetitive task (a normalized electromyography [EMG] amplitude recorded from the muscles of the upper limb involved in the performed task). In an experimental study of a repetitive task, the EMG signal from 5 main muscles of the shoulder girdle, arm and forearm was registered: extensor carpi radialis longus, flexor carpi ulnaris, deltoideus anterior, biceps brachii caput breve and trapezius descendent. The results of the study showed a strong correlation between the theoretical indicator (Integrated Cycle Load) and the physiological indicator (root mean square of a normalized EMG amplitude from the 5 muscles). This proves that the developed theoretical indicator can be accepted as an indicator of upper limb musculoskeletal load during a work task.     

基于EEG的有限空间检修工脑疲劳特性研究

为了探究有限空间内检修工在高温高湿状态下的脑疲劳特征,采用对照与模拟有限空间作业环境相结合的方法,对作业人员脑电波变化进行监测,利用傅里叶变换对原波信号进行时频转换,提取相对频率、重心频率等特征参数。研究结果表明:在高温高湿的有限空间环境中,人体脑波功率变化幅度明显变大;在进入疲劳状态时有限空间环境的脑波功率低于对照组;高频的β波在高温高湿环境中减少的比例较大,平均下降7.1%;脑波重心频率由8 Hz降为6 Hz,平均下降11.3%,由α波变为θ波,大脑活动进入疲劳状态。说明有限空间的高温高湿环境对人体脑疲劳具有明显影响,可用于脑电智能穿戴监测设备监测工人脑疲劳状况。     

The Effects of the Level of Alertness During the Rest Period on Subsequent Performance

The aim of this study was to examine how to take an effective rest to prevent a decline in alertness at work. The relationship between alertness during the rest period and subsequent task performance were investigated. The electroencephalogram (EEG) during the rest period was classified into 3 types, and these types had a significant effect on performance after the rest period. Type 1 (increasing in theta, alpha 2, and beta 1 power) was the best one for carrying out the task, whereas performance gradually declined in Type 3 (no change in EEG activity). In the case of Type 1, the method that would relieve sleep inertia had a more positive impact on performance after the rest period.     

Upper limb load as a function of repetitive task parameters: part 1--a model of upper limb load.

The aim of the study was to develop a theoretical indicator of upper limb musculoskeletal load based on repetitive task parameters. As such the dimensionless parameter, Integrated Cycle Load (ICL) was accepted. It expresses upper limb load which occurs during 1 cycle. The indicator is based on a model of a repetitive task, which consists of a model of the upper limb, a model of basic types of upper limb forces and a model of parameters of a repetitive task such as length of the cycle, length of periods of the cycle and external force exerted during each of the periods of the cycle. Calculations of the ICL parameter were performed for 12 different variants of external load characterised by different values of repetitive task parameters. A comparison of ICL, which expresses external load with a physiological indicator of upper limb load, is presented in Part 2 of the paper.     

Electromyographic analysis of relevant muscle groups during completion of computer tasks using different computer mouse positions

Background. We analyzed muscular activity for different computer mouse positions during the completion of a timed computer task and determined whether the different mouse positions could affect muscular activity, productivity and perceived fatigue. Methods. The subjects were nine healthy young men. Two mouse positions were studied: the distal position (DP), with the forearm rested on the desk; the proximal position (PP), with only the wrist rested on the desk. The subjects performed a 16-min task in each position. Surface electromyography data were recorded for the upper back and shoulder muscles. Work productivity and muscular activity were measured for each mouse position. A visual analog scale was used to assess subjective fatigue. Results. Muscular activity was higher in muscle (m.) deltoideus (posterior) for the DP, while it was significantly higher in m. inferior infraspinatus for the PP. The visual analog scale score was significantly higher and work productivity was lower in the PP. Conclusions. We found that using a mouse in the DP rather than the PP leads to less activity of the external rotators, less perceived fatigue and more productivity. This suggests that the DP is preferable to the PP for computer work involving a mouse.     

Effect of Different Types of Rest-Break Interventions on Neck and Shoulder Muscle Activity,Perceived Discomfort and Productivity in Symptomatic VDU Operators: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective. This study evaluated the effect of different types of activities during rest-break interventions on neck and shoulder muscle activity, muscle discomfort and productivity among symptomatic video display unit (VDU) operators performing prolonged computer terminal work. Study design and setting. Randomized controlled trial was used. Thirty symptomatic VDU operators were randomly assigned to 2 active break groups (stretching and dynamic movement) and a reference group. The subjects performed the same typing task for 60 min and received 3-min breaks after each 20 min of work. Root mean square and median frequency were calculated for neck and shoulder muscle activity. Muscle discomfort was measured with Borg’s CR-10 scale. Productivity was measured by counting words. Results. There were no significant differences between the types of activities during breaks on neck and shoulder muscle activity, muscle discomfort or productivity. However, there was a significant difference in the level of muscle discomfort over time. Conclusions. Three types of activity during breaks showed a favourable effect on neck and shoulder muscle activity and productivity, and a positive effect on muscle discomfort in symptomatic VDU operators.     

Effects of work surface and task difficulty on neck–shoulder posture and trapezius activity during a simulated mouse task

Objectives. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of the work surface and task difficulty on the head, upper back and upper arm postures and activity of the descending trapezius during a simulated mouse task. Methods. Healthy female university students (N?=?15) were evaluated. The work surface was positioned at elbow height (EH) and above elbow height (AEH) and the task difficulty was set at low (LD) and high (HD) levels. The postures were recorded by inclinometers. Trapezius activity was normalized by the maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). Results. Significantly higher head flexion was found at EH compared to the AEH condition, with an average difference of 2°–5° at the same difficulty level. The HD task significantly increased head (3°–6°) and upper back flexion (6°–7°) at the same table height. For upper arm elevation and trapezius activation, the AEH condition presented higher upper arm elevation (about 6°–8°) and trapezius activity (0.8–1.4% of MVIC), regardless of the difficulty level of the task. Conclusions. Head posture was influenced by the table height and task difficulty; the upper back posture by high difficulty; and upper arm posture and trapezius activity were only influenced by table height.     

坐姿时上肢作业姿势舒适性评价

针对人体呈现坐姿状态时前侧方作业区域的不同,利用人体测量数据在空间划分网格,实现了上肢作业姿势的参数化定义。并设计实验,由12位健康的男被试参加,利用自由模量幅度估计法对定义过的384种作业姿势的舒适性进行了评价和分级。对依据不同被试个数计算出的结果进行比较分析,并与快速上肢评价方法的评价结果进行比对,揭示了结果的可靠性。评价结果可以为操纵装置的工效设计以及作业空间布局提供重要参考,同时为国内的姿势舒适性评价工作提供了可靠的依据。     

基于任务特征的电网企业应急预案体系重构*

为解决目前电网企业应急预案体系建设存在的内容泛化、管理成本高等问题,提出基于任务特征的应急预案体系重构思路,运用情景构建方法,开展电网企业突发事件影响场景和处置任务分析,得出7个影响场景、10类处置任务和38项子任务。结果表明:电网企业应急处置任务具有收敛性特征。通过应急预案与处置任务匹配,重构应急预案体系结构和预案定位,构建以通用性部门应急预案及现场处置方案为建设重点的新型应急预案体系,形成“通用性预案工具箱”,实现预案衔接“无缝化”、预案内容“本地化”、管理成本“聚焦化”。     

工业噪声对脑认知影响的功率谱估计分析

为明确工业噪声对大脑认知的负面影响,采集火电厂球磨机的工业噪声,征集10名在校大学生在90 dB(A)的稳态工业噪声状态下及安静状态下的32导联脑电图(EEC).采用傅里叶变换方法进行频域分析,提取δ频段、θ频段、α1频段、α2频段和β频段功率谱,并进行统计分析.结果 表明:噪声环境与静音环境相比较,被试在δ频段、θ频...     

In-vehicle workload assessment: effects of traffic situations and cellular telephone use

PROBLEM: Assessment of drivers' on-road workload is an important traffic safety consideration. This study was conducted to examine the effects of cellular phone communication on driving performance, with particular emphasis on variations in task demand in different traffic situations. METHOD: Twelve participants were asked to drive on urban roads and motorways with or without concomitant mathematical-addition tests relayed via cellular phone. Measurements included task and driving performance, physiological responses, and compensatory behavior. RESULTS: Analysis of task performance revealed that mean response time was markedly increased (11.9%) for driving on urban roads compared to motorways. The mean driving speed only decreased 5.8% in the presence of phone tasks in comparison to normal driving without distractions. In addition, overall physiological workload increased through compensatory behavior in response to the phone tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Driving with phone use in different traffic environments induced measurable variations in driver workload. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: When faced with heavy traffic, a greater safety margin is typically adopted, with more lowered driving speed and restricted phone use, and it can be assumed that there is a general trade-off between tasks to preserve driving safety.     

Effects of multitasking on operator performance using computational and auditory tasks

This study investigated the effects of multiple cognitive tasks on human performance. Twenty-four students at North Carolina A&;T State University participated in the study. The primary task was auditory signal change perception and the secondary task was a computational task. Results showed that participants' performance in a single task was statistically significantly different from their performance in combined tasks: (a) algebra problems (algebra problem primary and auditory perception secondary); (b) auditory perception tasks (auditory perception primary and algebra problems secondary); and (c) mean false-alarm score in auditory perception (auditory detection primary and algebra problems secondary). Using signal detection theory (SDT), participants' performance measured in terms of sensitivity was calculated as ?0.54 for combined tasks (algebra problems the primary task) and ?0.53 auditory perceptions the primary task. During auditory perception tasks alone, SDT was found to be 2.51. Performance was 83% in a single task compared to 17% when combined tasks.     

The moderating role of task characteristics in determining responses to a stressful work simulation

Two experimental studies were conducted to examine whether the stress‐buffering effects of behavioral control on work task responses varied as a function of procedural information. Study 1 manipulated low and high levels of task demands, behavioral control, and procedural information for 128 introductory psychology students completing an in‐basket activity. ANOVA procedures revealed a significant three‐way interaction among these variables in the prediction of subjective task performance and task satisfaction. It was found that procedural information buffered the negative effects of task demands on ratings of performance and satisfaction only under conditions of low behavioral control. This pattern of results suggests that procedural information may have a compensatory effect when the work environment is characterized by a combination of high task demands and low behavioral control. Study 2 (N=256) utilized simple and complex versions of the in‐basket activity to examine the extent to which the interactive relationship among task demands, behavioral control, and procedural information varied as a function of task complexity. There was further support for the stress‐buffering role of procedural information on work task responses under conditions of low behavioral control. This effect was, however, only present when the in‐basket activity was characterized by high task complexity, suggesting that the interactive relationship among these variables may depend on the type of tasks performed at work. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of pliers’ grip spans in the maximum gripping task and sub-maximum cutting task

A total of 25 males participated to investigate the effects of the grip spans of pliers on the total grip force, individual finger forces and muscle activities in the maximum gripping task and wire-cutting tasks. In the maximum gripping task, results showed that the 50-mm grip span had significantly higher total grip strength than the other grip spans. In the cutting task, the 50-mm grip span also showed significantly higher grip strength than the 65-mm and 80-mm grip spans, whereas the muscle activities showed a higher value at 80-mm grip span. The ratios of cutting force to maximum grip strength were also investigated. Ratios of 30.3%, 31.3% and 41.3% were obtained by grip spans of 50-mm, 65-mm, and 80-mm, respectively. Thus, the 50-mm grip span for pliers might be recommended to provide maximum exertion in gripping tasks, as well as lower maximum-cutting force ratios in the cutting tasks.     

HUD状态下飞行员视觉注意资源分配机制研究

为了解决平视显示器（Head Up Display,HUD）飞行中的注意资源分配问题，基于飞行模拟器，设计双作业飞行任务开展相关研究。基于事件相关电位（Event Related Potential，ERP）技术，选取行为绩效和P300成分为评价指标，采用oddball模式，在双作业飞行任务条件下开展实验研究。结果表明:随主任务难度的增加，主、辅任务的作业绩效均显著下降，被试者对HUD上异常信息的正确操作率降低，且反应时间延长；随主任务难度的增加，由辅任务所诱发的P300的波幅显著降低。在实验结果的基础上，最终提出了HUD状态下飞行员视觉注意资源分配机制。